Karishma Ramharack hit a half-century and claimed a five-wicket haul as the T&T women’s cricket team defeated Barbados by 89 runs in the second and final 50-Over match at the North Stars Club, Crab Hill in St Lucy in Barbados to sweep the series
The visitors were all out for 207 before removing the host team, 118/9 before the match was called off as T&T sealed back-to-back wins in the 50-over warmup series. On Friday afternoon, T&T won the opener by 44 runs.
It was the fourth meeting between the teams as they have already squared off in two T20 encounters in the five-match series which is split into three T20 and two 50-Over matches at various venues in Barbados as both teams prepare for the Cricket West Indies (CWI) 50-over and T20 Blaze in Guyana in June. Barbados is also warming up for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in England from July 28-August 8.
T&T batted first and captain Reniece Boyce (27), steadied the ship early on as Lee Ann Kirby (23) moved the score along but it was the left-handed Ramharack, who was the mainstay of the inning with her 55 runs to help T&T to a decent 207 in 45.1 overs.
Rianna Gooding Forte (2/21) and Krisanne Howell (2/25) were the main wicket-takers for the host team.
Kyshona Knight (45) and Naijanni Cumberbatch (33) looked comfortable at the crease in Barbados’ reply until right-arm off-break bowler Ramharack struck, impressively picking up five wickets for 13 runs. Off-spinner Steffie Soogrim was T&T’s next best with 1/15 holding the Barbadians to 118/9 in 36.5 overs, ending the proceedings.
On Sunday, pacer Kirbyina Alexander and Soogrim picked up two wickets each to help T&T defeat Barbados in another T20 match, this time at Isolation Cavaliers, Lakes, and St Andrew on Sunday. The visiting T&T secured a seven-wicket win.
The Barbadians were hoping to bounce back from their four-wicket defeat in the opening T20 match at the Rubis Sports Club in Spring Garden, St Michael on Thursday.
The host country just as in the opener batted first and in their 20 overs posted a score of 128/6 with Kycia Knight leading the batting with a half-century (60) while Aaliyah Alleyne stayed for a while at the crease but lost her wicket for 35.
T&T’s right-arm pace bowler Alexander (2/21) and left-arm off-spinner Soogrim (2/28) did well to restrict the Barbados batting line-up.
In reply, T&T only needed 15.5 overs to reach the winning target of 129/3, thanks to Shenelle Lord with an unbeaten 33, Rachel Vincent’s 27 and Kirby with 26 not out.
Howell was the top bowler for Barbados picking up 2/18 while her teammate Shanika Bruce was again among the wickets, claiming 1/29. In the first T20, she sealed 2/29 in a losing effort.
The teams were scheduled to return to action yesterday (Monday) in the second 50-over match at the North Stars Club, Crab Hill in St Lucy with T&T aiming to sweep that series after winning the opening 50-over by 44 runs on Friday afternoon.
The third and final T20 clash is set for tomorrow at the Police Sports Club, Weymouth, St Michael, at 2 pm.